Abuja
Public healthcare services across Nigeria continue to be disrupted as the indefinite strike by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) enters its fifth month, with the union holding the Federal Government responsible for the ongoing crisis.
JOHESU says the strike, which affects federal hospitals, medical institutions, and teaching hospitals nationwide, is over a single unresolved demand: the implementation of the revised Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, JOHESU’s National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, emphasised that while the union sympathises with patients, the blame for the disruption rests squarely with the government.
“We know the impact of the strike on Nigerian citizens, but Nigerians should not hold us responsible. The government should be responsible because the government must do the needful so we can avert such a strike in the future,” Egbanubi said.
He added that union members themselves have endured hardships due to the strike, with some losing loved ones and colleagues. He cited the death of a JOHESU member at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital last week, highlighting the personal toll on health workers.
“We truly empathise with the masses who cannot afford healthcare outside public hospitals. We have even recorded casualties among our members,” he said.
Egbanubi appealed to Nigerians and civil society to pressure the government into meeting the union’s demand.
“We are not deriving any pleasure from this strike. It is also not convenient for us because of the difficulties involved. Let Nigerians appeal to the Federal Government to address this one-point demand, and we will suspend the strike,” he said.
The union expressed frustration over repeated assurances from authorities. According to Egbanubi, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in June 2023 requested JOHESU suspend an earlier strike, promising to direct the relevant ministries to implement the revised salary structure. Despite reminders, the union says the government has not delivered.
The strike, which began in November 2025, has already paralyzed medical services and teaching activities in health institutions nationwide. The Medical and Health Workers Union had warned that the action would be prolonged unless the government honoured previous agreements.
Last week, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) threw its weight behind the striking health workers, condemning a “No Work, No Pay” directive issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The circular threatened to halt salaries of JOHESU members through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) from January 2026.
In a statement, TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary-General N. A. Toro said the move was unacceptable, arguing that it undermines ongoing negotiations and violates established industrial relations principles.
“The Ministry of Health acted unilaterally. We call on the Federal Government to return to the negotiating table and resolve the dispute urgently to restore normal healthcare services,” the statement read.
The ongoing strike has left many Nigerians without access to affordable healthcare, forcing patients to turn to private clinics or forego treatment altogether. In rural areas and smaller towns, the impact has been even more severe, with some communities reporting that hospital operations have ground to a halt entirely.
While JOHESU maintains its stand, the government faces mounting pressure from civil society, labour groups, and the general public to find a lasting solution. Analysts say the standoff highlights broader systemic issues in Nigeria’s health sector, including delayed policy implementation, inadequate funding, and a strained workforce.
As the strike continues, attention now turns to whether the Federal Government will negotiate in earnest to implement CONHESS, or whether the health sector could face an even longer disruption with escalating consequences for Nigerians.